Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 General Discussion Thread

[jasonT1981]

I still need to get my Pimms Flightdeck tickets for the Sunday, I will get them tonight before it ends.

[jasonT1981]

USAF F35 Demo for RIAT according to the updated USAF Schedule

https://www.acc.af.mil/Home/Aerial-Even ... -schedule/

Note - Flying legends also??

[Discodaz]

Good to have the US join the flying line up again.

Daz

[milaviation]

has the Pat. Suisse 2023 schedule come out yet

[jasonT1981]

Only their 2023 training schedule is up so far.

[65thAgressor]

I saw the f-35 demo team at aviation nation in november,fantastic display by Major Kristin "beo" Wolfe. If she is still the demo pilot your in for a real treat!

[milaviation]

2x RNLAF F16s self confirm on static for the last time

Source - UKAR

[thevulcan]

Presumably RNLAF F-35's after this year?

[BwlchAwyren]

Hello,first time going to riat. Bought tickets for the Friday. Just wondering if Thursday is worth going too? Thanks

[James Cutting]

Friday is only really a "preview" day, so you won't see everything that is due to fly - there often is a "special" flypast for Friday spectators too (I think last year was the Oil Spill Response 727 with one of the Blades?)

I've never done Thursday before, but is a good day to get a large amount of the arrivals And I believe some displays too as they get their approvals (can't remember the proper term).

[jamyt123]

Hello,first time going to riat. Bought tickets for the Friday. Just wondering if Thursday is worth going too? Thanks

Personally, arrival days are one of the main highlights of RIAT for me! Can be some gaps where nothing happens for an hour or so, but arrivals and practices/validations from a different viewpoint in the park and view areas gives a different experiance to the show days

[sneezy24]

Thumbs up for Thursday. My attendance is normally Thursday, Saturday and Monday (day off between each session gives time to recover and charge all the batteries up!).
Going for Viewing Village on Saturday, did it in 2018 and it was a great location! (and the plastic garden seats are very useful for panning shots!)
Thursday is always quite busy, some quiet spells, but lots of arrivals and validations taking place, and a few departures. Normally P&V East.
Monday tends to be a shorter day, most stuff has left by 3-4 in the afternoon. Again, my preference is for P&V East - I once did West as I thought they would be using easterly take-off, but I was wrong! Still good though.

[jasonT1981]

Looks like ACC have removed Fairford and the F35 (and all over-seas show) from their schedule today.

[jasonT1981]

Friday is only really a "preview" day, so you won't see everything that is due to fly - there often is a "special" flypast for Friday spectators too (I think last year was the Oil Spill Response 727 with one of the Blades?)

Reds and the P-8 Poseidon
727 & 2x Blades

We also got flypasts of the Draken, Vigen, Lansen, A4, Hunter, USAF Boeing E4B on arrival as well as a surprise crowd pass over from a very low F35 & F15 in formation.

Greek F16 also did a validation display in the morning before the show started (didn't fly in main display) and the Czech? Hind did a validation display too. And looking at my pictures we got a Czech F16 arrival too.

Oh, and 2 Friday only displays in the A149 Helicopter and a Spitfire solo display.

[jamyt123]

Friday is only really a "preview" day, so you won't see everything that is due to fly - there often is a "special" flypast for Friday spectators too (I think last year was the Oil Spill Response 727 with one of the Blades?)

Greek F16 also did a validation display in the morning before the show started (didn't fly in main display) and the Czech? Hind did a validation display too. And looking at my pictures we got a Czech F16 arrival too.

Hungarian Hind validated before the show on Friday. Greek F16 validation was fun - with a pass behind us on the crowdline from our viewpoint next to the Cotswold Club

F16 Arrivals on Friday morning were the Dutch 312sqn pair - J-197 (70 years tail) / J-508

[jasonT1981]

Friday is only really a "preview" day, so you won't see everything that is due to fly - there often is a "special" flypast for Friday spectators too (I think last year was the Oil Spill Response 727 with one of the Blades?)

Greek F16 also did a validation display in the morning before the show started (didn't fly in main display) and the Czech? Hind did a validation display too. And looking at my pictures we got a Czech F16 arrival too.

Hungarian Hind validated before the show on Friday. Greek F16 validation was fun - with a pass behind us on the crowdline from our viewpoint next to the Cotswold Club

F16 Arrivals on Friday morning were the Dutch 312sqn pair - J-197 (70 years tail) / J-508

You're right, it was the Dutch. The Red, White & Blue roundal made me think Czech.

I'm very surprised the Greek F16 got away with that lol.

[peasus911]

I always went to the show on the Sunday, way before the Friday flying was introduced. Always watched the feedback from those that went and it seems 50/50 and definitely an individual preference on why you would choose to do so.
I decided to try out the Friday show last year for the first time.
I normally camp from Tuesday to Monday and go inside on the Sunday but my first Friday experience was very positive.
Without going over the content which was excellently covered previously, it also allows you more space and freedom walking along the flight line although the far end where the heavies are normally parked is out of bounds to allow for the arrivals that day. I had much more time to take in the stalls and the crowd line for the flying display was also much more acceptable.
One of the best parts was getting out at the end of the show, I arrived at my car, packed up my kit and started to drive to the exit, it was so easy and no queuing, I was out in no time and on the main road.
Friday's it is for me from now on.
Hope that helps.

[BwlchAwyren]

Thank you all for your feedback much appreciated

[James Cutting]

Friday is only really a "preview" day, so you won't see everything that is due to fly - there often is a "special" flypast for Friday spectators too (I think last year was the Oil Spill Response 727 with one of the Blades?)

Reds and the P-8 Poseidon
727 & 2x Blades

We also got flypasts of the Draken, Vigen, Lansen, A4, Hunter, USAF Boeing E4B on arrival as well as a surprise crowd pass over from a very low F35 & F15 in formation.

Greek F16 also did a validation display in the morning before the show started (didn't fly in main display) and the Czech? Hind did a validation display too. And looking at my pictures we got a Czech F16 arrival too.

Oh, and 2 Friday only displays in the A149 Helicopter and a Spitfire solo display.

Yeah you can tell I didn't go to the Friday show last year... Thank you.

[raptor9]

Like some of us oldies, haven't been since the Russian Bears. Thursday then was a fantastic day. Absolutely non-stop throughout the day. After all, in those days one could count 450 aircraft on the ground.........